Ryan Helsley Returning to Baltimore Orioles After Exercising $14 Million Player Option for 2027
By Brian Hradsky
October 29, 2026 | Maryland Sports Blog
The Baltimore Orioles will have veteran closer Ryan Helsley back for the 2027 season after the right-handed reliever reportedly exercised his $14 million player option Thursday. Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner reported the decision, according to RotoWire, keeping the former All-Star in Baltimore for the second season of his two-year, $28 million contract. The decision comes after an injury-plagued 2026 campaign that prevented Helsley from establishing himself as the reliable ninth-inning presence the Orioles envisioned when they signed him. Baltimore now enters the offseason with another opportunity to build a formidable bullpen around Helsley and fellow former All-Star closer Félix Bautista.
Helsley Chooses Baltimore After Difficult 2026 Season
The Orioles signed Helsley in December 2025 with the expectation that he would help stabilize the back end of their bullpen while Bautista recovered from shoulder surgery. Helsley arrived with an impressive résumé that included one of the most dominant relief seasons in recent baseball history. However, right elbow inflammation repeatedly interrupted his first season in Baltimore and ultimately limited him to just 17 appearances. Instead of providing a full season of ninth-inning stability, Helsley spent much of the year working toward a return to the mound.
In those 17 appearances, Helsley recorded eight saves, a 4.11 ERA and 21 strikeouts across 15 1/3 innings. His numbers demonstrated flashes of his strikeout ability, but his availability became a much larger concern than his individual performance. The Orioles placed him on the injured list twice because of elbow problems, with his second absence extending through the remainder of the season. Baltimore ultimately decided against rushing him back for the final weeks of a disappointing campaign.
The decision to exercise his option makes financial sense for Helsley following a season in which injuries restricted his opportunities to demonstrate his value. Rather than testing free agency after pitching fewer than 16 innings, the veteran reliever can remain with the Orioles and attempt to rebuild his value during the 2027 season. Baltimore, meanwhile, retains a pitcher with considerable closing experience without having to negotiate another contract. Both sides now have a clear objective: getting Helsley healthy and productive again.
Why the Orioles Shut Helsley Down in September
Helsley attempted to return late in the 2026 season and made a rehabilitation appearance with Triple-A Norfolk on Sept. 12. He threw a scoreless inning, providing an encouraging indication that his recovery was progressing. Nevertheless, the Orioles determined that accelerating his rehabilitation schedule for a handful of late-season appearances would create unnecessary risk. President of baseball operations Mike Elias subsequently announced that the organization would shut Helsley down and focus on preparing him for 2027.
That approach reflected Baltimore’s broader circumstances as the regular season approached its conclusion. The Orioles were no longer positioned to make a meaningful postseason run, reducing the incentive to push an important veteran reliever through an accelerated recovery. Elias indicated that Helsley had progressed well during rehabilitation and that the organization wanted to prioritize the following season. The decision also allowed Baltimore to begin planning for a bullpen that could feature both Helsley and Bautista at full strength.
Helsley’s recovery will remain one of the organization’s important offseason storylines. Although he completed a rehabilitation appearance in September, that does not guarantee he will enter spring training without limitations or setbacks. Baltimore will need to monitor his throwing progression and determine how quickly he can return to handling regular major league workloads. His health could significantly influence how aggressively the Orioles pursue additional late-inning relief help.
A Potential Helsley and Bautista Bullpen Combination
One of the most intriguing developments surrounding Helsley’s return involves his potential partnership with Bautista. Both pitchers have demonstrated the ability to dominate opposing hitters in high-leverage situations, and both have experience serving as major league closers. However, injuries have prevented Baltimore from consistently deploying the two relievers together. A healthy 2027 season could finally give manager Craig Albernaz the late-inning flexibility the organization hoped to establish.
Bautista returned from shoulder surgery late in September and made two lower-leverage appearances before the season ended. The Orioles have reason to view him as a leading candidate for the closer’s role, although his limited workload in recent seasons creates legitimate questions about his durability. Helsley could serve as a setup reliever, compete for closing opportunities or share high-leverage assignments depending on how both pitchers perform. Baltimore does not need to make that decision immediately, particularly with several months remaining before spring training.
A bullpen featuring healthy versions of Helsley and Bautista could substantially improve Baltimore’s ability to protect late leads. Their combined closing experience would give Albernaz options against difficult opposing lineups and reduce the need to rely on one reliever for every save opportunity. However, the Orioles cannot assume that both pitchers will automatically return to their previous All-Star form. The organization must continue developing its relief depth rather than treating Helsley’s return as a complete solution.
Remembering Helsley’s Dominant 2024 Season
Before his arrival in Baltimore, Helsley established himself as one of baseball’s premier relief pitchers with the St. Louis Cardinals. His remarkable 2024 campaign included 49 saves, the most in Major League Baseball that season. That performance demonstrated his ability to handle the pressure of the ninth inning while consistently finishing close games. It also explains why the Orioles were willing to invest $28 million over two seasons in a veteran reliever with a proven track record.
Baltimore has not yet received the level of production it expected from that investment. Injuries limited Helsley’s opportunities in 2026, leaving the organization with an incomplete evaluation of how effectively he fits its long-term bullpen plans. Nevertheless, his previous success provides a compelling reason to remain optimistic about what he could contribute if his elbow problems are resolved. The challenge will be turning that potential into sustained availability and dependable results.
Baltimore Faces Important Decisions After Disappointing Season
The Orioles finished the 2026 season with a 79-82 record, placing fourth in the American League East and missing the postseason. Their struggles extended beyond the bullpen, with the starting rotation also presenting significant concerns throughout the year. Elias has acknowledged the need to improve the pitching staff heading into 2027, making this offseason particularly important for the organization’s competitive future. Retaining Helsley resolves one contract question, but Baltimore still has considerable work ahead.
Starting pitcher Trevor Rogers is approaching free agency, and the Orioles must evaluate their rotation alongside the bullpen. The organization also faces decisions involving other veterans and potential roster upgrades as it attempts to return to postseason contention. With the American League East remaining highly competitive, Baltimore cannot afford another season in which injuries and inconsistent pitching undermine its offensive talent. Helsley’s return represents one piece of a much larger offseason strategy.
MSB Take: Helsley’s Return Gives Orioles a Second Chance
From Maryland Sports Blog’s perspective, Helsley exercising his player option is a positive development, although it comes with legitimate concerns. Baltimore committed significant money to a proven closer and received only 17 appearances during the first season of that agreement. Losing him after that disappointing campaign would have left the Orioles searching for another experienced late-inning arm. Keeping him gives the organization another opportunity to benefit from its original investment.
The biggest question is whether Helsley can regain the effectiveness that made him such a valuable reliever in St. Louis. His 49-save season in 2024 demonstrated what he can accomplish when healthy and performing at his best. However, Baltimore cannot simply expect that version of Helsley to reappear without addressing the durability concerns that shaped his 2026 season. The Orioles need a careful rehabilitation plan, dependable bullpen depth and realistic expectations heading into spring training.
I would also avoid automatically naming Helsley the closer before evaluating Bautista’s recovery. If Bautista returns to his dominant form, Baltimore could benefit from using Helsley in the eighth inning while preserving flexibility for difficult ninth-inning matchups. That arrangement could make the bullpen more versatile while allowing the Orioles to manage both pitchers’ workloads. Competition between the two veterans would be a welcome development after a season in which Baltimore struggled to keep its top relief options healthy.
Ultimately, the Orioles need Helsley to provide more than a handful of encouraging appearances. They need consistent innings, reliable late-game performances and a veteran presence capable of helping stabilize a pitching staff that fell short of expectations. His decision to remain in Baltimore provides an opportunity for redemption after a frustrating first season. Whether that opportunity turns into a successful 2027 campaign will depend largely on his health and ability to recapture his previous form.
For now, Baltimore has retained an experienced former All-Star closer for $14 million in 2027. The contract decision removes one uncertainty from the Orioles’ offseason and gives the organization another potential weapon in the bullpen. With Bautista also working toward a full return, Baltimore could enter next season with considerably more late-inning talent than it was able to use during 2026. The next step is ensuring that talent stays healthy enough to make a difference.
